Peltier column: Let the games begin

TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers kicked off an election-year, tight budget session last week as Gov. Rick Scott called for further tax cuts and $1 billion more for education while assuring Floridians that good times are returning.

Ushered into a January session in a constitutionally mandated effort to draw new political boundaries in time for the 2012 elections, legislative leaders took little time to caution voters of potentially painful cuts as they work to craft a budget that may fall up to $2 billion short.

Visibly more at ease than he was a year ago, Scott delivered his second State of the State speech to a joint session of the Legislature, saying the signs of economic recovery are in the air and his plans to bring 700,000 new jobs to the state are on track.

Scott kept his message limited by focusing on public education, auto insurance reform and his mantra of more jobs.

"The decisions we make in the next few months will determine whether we continue to create a business climate that will provide new jobs and opportunities for Floridians; whether we fully recapture that spirit of human potential that is at the core of what it means to be a Floridian," Scott said. "I'm absolutely convinced that we will."

Otherwise short on specifics, the governor called on lawmakers to find at least a $1 billion more for public education while holding the line or reducing taxes, and warned lawmakers he "cannot budge" on that number. But the governor spent most of his time in FDR mode, reassuring Floridians that despite a stubborn recession, good times are indeed right around the corner.

"I'm here today to tell you that promise and opportunity will return; in fact ARE returning even as we meet here today. While we have many miles to go, and some of them will be painful, our higher journey is already under way. This year and today we see the rebirth of an even greater Florida." Scott said.

Days after his speech, state economists backed up the assertion with numbers. Tweaking figures that will be used by lawmakers in the month ahead, economists posted a revenue forecast that for the first time in years did not get worse.

The new estimate issued Thursday changes the overall projection by $26.1 million — about 1 percent of the projected $2 billion budget shortfall and an increase of 0.05 percent in projected revenue. It includes an increase of $46 million in the estimate for the current year and a drop of $19.9 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Earlier in the week, the senate president said lawmakers should consider postponing budget action until after revenue data from December and January was available. The idea gained momentum as the week progressed. But so far, the house speaker says he's confident the session will end in 60 days.